First off I need to say sorry. Sorry, because this post is going up late. This week has been a busy one for me and I lost track of the days until last night when I remembered I hadn’t written this post!

Now that is out the way, let begin.

I left last weeks post on our third day in Malaga, which means I’m starting this one on our fourth. Our fourth day was spent, yet again, on a beach. Emily and I spent the day on the Malagueta beach again after having another lazy morning and breakfast at a café called Noviembre, the vibe was great and the food really backed it up. When we arrived at the beach we nipped into the ‘everything’ shop over the road to pick up some water, snacks and cider before having a browse of the small market that lined the roadside. We actually picked up a couple of things from the market, the first being a round beach towel that Emily had been after for a long time, and the second being a couple of leather cable tidies that took my fancy. After our browse of the market, we found a suitable spot for our towels before entering relaxation mode. After a few hours in the sun and countless dips in the sea, we headed back to our apartment but via a different route, just to mix things up. I got my camera out for the walk home to justify taking my camera with me. We spent our evening in the city at our new favourite Gin bar after a huge meal at TukTuk Noodles.

Iron Door - Malaga, Spain 03/07/2017

After a restless nights sleep thanks to our neighbours it was a new day, and another exploring day for us. We hopped on the train to Fuengirola with a plan to have an explore then spend the day on yet another beach. Our plan didn’t exactly go to plan. Once in Fuengirola, we headed to Soffers Café for some breakfast before having a wander around. After about an hour we found a bus route that would take us up to Mijas. With the bus being only a couple of euros we hopped on. A short bus journey later and we were in the beautiful town of Mijas, located in the mountains just outside Fuengirola you wouldn’t even know they were close.

Mijas is full of whitewashed buildings and beautiful views of the coast. We spent some time wandering the small streets, in and out of shops as we went. We arrived in a small square, by the old bullfighting ring, and found an ice cream café where we took a break from the sun. The ice cream was beautiful and the iced latte Emily and I shared was just what we needed. From the café we explored some more before stopping for another drink after only an hour or so, you do have to keep well hydrated in the heat. After some confusion, we got our drinks, Malibu and Coke for Emily and Gluten Free San Miguel for me. Can you believe the confusion was with the Malibu and Coke? From there we headed back to the bus to start our journey back to Malaga. After arriving back in Fuengirola we had a quick bit of beach time before the sun went down, once it had gone we packed up and headed for the train.

Once back in our apartment we showered and headed out for the evening. That evening we ate at the Noviembre café before going back to the pub we visited in the last post for a cider nightcap.

Mijas- Mijas, Spain 04/07/2017

Our last full day in Malaga was spent, for a final time, on the beach. Before we got to the beach though we did a bit of souvenir shopping along Calle Marques de Larios. Emily picked up some gifts for friends, I picked up a couple of bracelets for myself and we picked up a couple of shot glasses for our collection. After our shopping spree, we had lunch at the restaurant we ate at on our first night, it was just as good, if not better. Like I just said we spent the day on the beach again, we were on holiday after all! After a long day at the beach, we headed out to our favourite gin bar for one last time.

Clear Blue- Malaga, Spain 05/07/2017

On our final day in Malaga we had to leave the apartment at 11 am, but after our last night, it was kind of hard. Our flight home was scheduled for 5:30 pm so we had to be at the airport for around 3:30 pm which gave us some time to kill. We headed over to Calle Marques de Larios to people watch and do some final shopping. We actually ended up sitting in a cafe with a beer and Malibu and Coke to pass the time. When the time came to head off to the airport we hopped on the train and said our goodbye’s to the city.

Once at the airport we discovered our flight was delayed by 2 hours, which grew to 2 and a half by the time we took off. With all the extra time to kill we wandered around Malaga airport, picked up some local Liquor called Liquor 43 from duty-free, got something to eat and just hung around until our flight. Something that always baffles me about flying anywhere is when people start queuing as soon as someone in any kind of uniform approaches the gate desk as if they will be let on the plane sooner. Emily and I ended up sitting around until the queue was only a few people long before we joined. After a disaster of a journey back to Manchester everything was plain sailing from there. Tony, Emily's dad, picked us up and whisked us off home to end our day in the comfort of our own bed, dreading work the next day.

And that, lady’s and gentlemen, is where this post ends. I have a few trips over the coming months so keep an eye out for those!

Another month and another adventure! This time Emily and I headed off to Malaga, for a relaxing week away to unwind. I still took my camera and snapped my way through the holiday but not with as much importance as usual. I’m breaking this week down into 2 posts as I don’t have lots of photos to share. Let’s begin.

Our first day started at the buttcrack of dawn! 2 am to be precise. Off to the airport at 3 am to catch our flight at 6 am to get us into Malaga at around 10 am local time. After a hiccup at the airport, I won’t go into that, we arrived at our Airbnb at around 11:30 am. Our first day was spent wandering around Malaga to find our bearings and get to know where everything is we would need. First on the list was the main shopping street, Calle Marqués de Larios, where we found a beautiful fountain in a lovely open square. From there we wandered down towards the port (where I took the picture you see below), diving in and out of shops as we went. From the port, we headed over to the Larios Centro Mall to do some grocery shopping to get us through the week. After such an early start, and spending most of the day walking, we had a siesta before heading out for something to eat. We ate in a lovely Tapas bar, which I cannot remember the name of at all, but trust me when I say it was amazing!

A Wheelie Good City - Malaga, Spain 30/08/2017

Our second day started later than we wanted but we must have really needed a lie in. After a lazy morning, we headed off the beach, the Malagueta beach, to spend all afternoon in the sun. I had to take the obligatory tourist photo of the sign but after that didn’t touch my camera until the walk home where I snapped this picture of the town hall between the trees that lined our walk home. After showers, we headed out to eat again, this time at Restaurante Bar La Bouganvilla where the food was amazing once again! The menu was a typical Mediterranean menu with fish and meat but there was something for everyone and we can highly recommend it. After our meal, we walked down the road to the Sala Premier Centro pub where we ended our evening with a cider, very Spanish.

Town Hall - Malaga, Spain 01/09/2017

Day 3 was an adventure day which consisted of an adventure to the beach in Torremolinos. Can you see a trend starting yet? We hopped on the train mid-morning and were there not even 40minutes later. First port of call was a café for an adult refreshment, we were on holiday after all, before having a wander around the shops which was soon followed by posting up on the beach for a few hours. As evening drew closer we packed up and grabbed a bit to eat at a seafood restaurant called Chiringuito Los Bandoleros where we had Pizza, just what we were craving! The food was great and just what we needed after an afternoon lead down. From the restaurant we made our way back to the train station, popping into a few shops along the way. Once back in Malaga we headed straight back to our Airbnb, showered up and headed out for a few evening drinks. We chose to spend our evening in El Museo de la Ginebra where we knocked back a couple of rounds before calling it a night.

Swing Bucket - Torremolinos, Spain 02/09/2017

This is where I’m going to end this post, you’ll have to come back next week to see what we did on our final few days in Malaga.

Welcome to our final day in Amsterdam, if you have missed the previous 3 days you can view them here, Day 1, Day 2, Day 3. If you are up Tod ate then please read on!

Our fourth and final day in Amsterdam started with us checking out of our hotel after a lovely 3 nights there. As we were flying home in the evening we had to leave some luggage at the hotel while we explored the city one last time. We rented bikes from the hotel at a rate of €9 per bike per day, which I think is quite reasonable. After getting accustomed to our bike we headed off for a morning coffee at While Label Coffee, which we can highly recommend if you want delicious coffee in Amsterdam. From White Label we headed off towards the Albert Cuyptmarkt, it’s no secret Emily and I like a market, via the Vondelpark and theHeineken Experience. We didn’t actually do the Heineken Experience but maybe we will next time.

Monday Market - Amsterdam, Holland 19/06/2017

Once at the market we locked our bikes up and wandered up and down, checking out the stalls as we went. We found a cool furniture reclaimers while wandering up and down but didn’t take down the name but they had some really unique items in stock. Once we had finished at the market we headed back to the Vondelpark to find some shopping streets we hadn’t yet explored. On one of said streets, we found a cute little ice cream parlour called IJsboutique where we stopped for a well-deserved ice cream, they even had Emily friendly (Gluten free) cones! I had Salted Caramel and Pistachio, and Emily opted for Lemon Sorbet and Salted Caramel. All 3 flavours were amazing and I can only imagine what the rest of their offerings were like.

Noble Steeds - Amsterdam, Holland 19/06/2017

After our ice creams, it was back to the park for a photoshoot on our bikes. We found a quiet stretch of path and rode up and down, trying to act natural, and trying to get the perfect shot. `it worked in a way but didn’t come out how I imagined, I’ll have to practise those. After our photo shoot and a sit down in the shade, it was time for lunch. For lunch we headed straight to Ivy and Bros, stopping at the Bloemenmarkt to pick up some souvenirs on our way, because we knew it was Emily friendly, and we loved it so much last time. We had the same food, Chicken and Avo sandwiches and the same drinks, Homemade Iced Tea. Again all of it was amazing so definitely check it out when you visit Amsterdam.

The Student Hotel - Amsterdam, Holland 19/06/2017

By the Time we had finished luck it was time to head back to the hotel so we could return the bikes and collect our luggage before we had to get the train to the airport for our flight home. The journey to the airport was an experience all of its own. The ticket machines wouldn’t accept cash so we had to pay on card, not a problem, but my first card got declined which meant I had to use my backup. Once that was sorted we got to the platform and the train we needed was just leaving, so we had to wait for the next one. Luckily we had given ourselves enough time so we wouldn’t miss our flight.

Cruising - Amsterdam, Holland 19/06/2017

Once at the airport, everything went smoothly and we caught our flight on time without any more trouble. Which brings us to the end of the trip and the end of this mini series. I hope you enjoyed our time in Amsterdam, we both highly recommend the city for the perfect long weekend. If you need somewhere to stay then The Student Hotel is a great choice, and all the cafes and bars we visited are a must to visit.

Before you start, if you have missed the first 2 parts of this trip then please go back and catch up on part 1 HERE and part 2 HERE. If you are up to speed then please read on.

Day 3, Sunday, June 18th, 2017, started like the day prior, with a lie in. We ventured out from the hotel at around 10 am, making our way to the old town via tram. We started our day with a Canal Cruise around the canals and harbour of Amsterdam. We learnt a whole load of interesting facts about Amsterdam and the history of its geography, buildings and residents. Facts like each and every house in Amsterdam has a furniture hook at the top of the building to make moving furniture easy as the star cases are too tight. We opted for the Rederij Kooij tour and had a great time, the guide is played from a CD throughout the boat and tells everything is 4 or 5 different languages, the ride was smooth and the seats were plenty comfy enough. I’d recommend a hat and something to cover your shoulders on a hot day and it does feel like a greenhouse in direct sunlight.

Travel Buddy - Amsterdam, Holland 18/06/2017

Once our tour was complete had a stroll towards a part of the city we hadn’t yet explored, past the De L’Europe Hotel, the Nationale Opera & Ballet and the Hermitage Museum. We got to the Magere Brug and had a sit-down and a drink, whilst this was happening a rather large boat approached the bridge, causing it to open which was enjoyable to watch. Once the boat passed we got back on the move, over the bridge towards the Rijksmuseum and I Amsterdam sign.

Draw Bridge - Amsterdam, Holland 18/06/2017

We walked part way then hopped on a tram to escape the heat for a short period of time. Once at the museum we realised it was a bad time of day to visit. For one, there were hoards of people everywhere! All trying to get their picture with the sign. Secondly, there was a market on which brought even more people to the area. We waited patiently for a gap to take pictures and did our thing. I actually had a run-in with a French lady who claimed I ruined her picture of her husband and trod on her map in the process. I knew about the picture but no idea about the map, who leaves a map on the floor and walks off anyway? Her fault if you ask me. I ignored her and carried on as I was.

I Amsterdam - Amsterdam, Holland 18/06/2017

After a wander round the market, we hopped on a tram back to Old Town (can you tell we liked the Old Town yet?) for something to eat. By this point, it was nearing 7 pm and we were getting rather hungry. A quick google search brought up a Jacket Potato place called Jacketz. The main item on the menu is Jacket Potatoes and you can will the with whatever you want. Emily had Pesto Chicken and I had Chilli, both were extremely filling and left us wanting a post-meal nap. Luckily we had no plans for the rest of the day so waddled back towards Dam Square. We ended our day sat in Dam Square once again, watching the world go by. We caught the tram at about 10:30 pm but not before taking some moody pictures of the surrounding buildings.

10:16 - Amsterdam, Holland 18/06/2017

Once back at the hotel we both collapsed into bed and slept off our food coma.

Welcome back to my mini Amsterdam series, if you missed the first post last week then go check that out first HERE. If you have already read the first post then read on.

Our day started later than we wanted but it was worth it from the night before, plus we made up the lost time later on in the day. We started our day by heading to the Old Town via the Anne Frank House and Dam Square, we didn’t get to visit the Anne Frank House at all during our visit because we didn’t book ahead and didn’t fancy standing in a queue for hours. Maybe next time. We wandered from the Anne Frank House towards Dam Square taking as many back streets as we could. Once in Dam Square, we grabbed a coffee to get us fuelled up for the day.

Dam Vibes - Amsterdam, Holland 17/06/2017

Once in the middle of Old Town Amsterdam, and the Red Light District, we continued our back street exploration to get a real feel of Amsterdam. The Old Town is filled with cafés, restaurants, and bars, of which our favourites were Ivy & Bros, Café Piazza, and Café In De Waag, all of which we recommend you try. After some time meandering the back streets it was time for lunch, we chose Ivy & Bros after doing our research into where offered Gluten Free options for Emily. We both opted for the Chicken Avo sandwich, which was massive, and homemade Iced Tea. As we wandered through the Old Town we stumbled across a small food shop called Stach, which sells all kinds of treats. I treated myself to some Stroopwafels (Syrup Waffles) whilst Emily chose some macaroons. I actually saved the waffles to have as a quick breakfast before we left our hotel each morning.

Hipster - Amsterdam, Holland 17/06/2017

After lunch, we made our way down to the Bloemenmarkt (Flower Market) to check out what was going on down there. I personally was disappointed due to the fact there were more souvenir stalls than flower stalls, I was hoping to get some great pictures of flowers but the flowers that were there were either fake or bulbs and seeds and not exciting at all. We did, however, find some souvenirs that we would pick up another day.

Sideways - Amsterdam, Holland 17/06/2017

After a wander around the flower market and subsequent back streets we headed over to Café Piazza for some tea, we had been recommended here by a friend of Emily’s who loved it. We can both safely say it was an amazing meal, I chose a local Pizza whilst Emily had the Pesto Pasta. After our amazing meal, which really did fill us up, we strolled over to the Sex Museum for some rather unconventional evening entertainment (no live shows involved). At €5/person entry it’s worth a visit, if you’re passing by, for a rather strange history lesson and a good laugh. From the museum, it was back over to Dam Square before jumping on the tram back to our hotel. Here we just watched the world go by as we, slowly, got over our museum experience. I snapped a couple of pictures of the Royal Palace whilst we were there, the sky was so clear that night and the light was only just fading at around 10 pm that it made for some great pictures.

Royal Palace - Amsterdam, Holland 17/06/2017

From Dam Square it was back to the hotel for a week earned rest in preparation for another day of exploring. The trams are a great way to get around and see lots of Amsterdam quite quickly, with tickets starting at €2.90 for 1 hour of unlimited trips it really is worth it, and it so easy to navigate with a tourist map, we never missed a stop or got lost!